New Chief of Schools To Start Job May 31

Kathryn LeRoy, the Polk County School District's new superintendent, will begin her first day on the job May 31.

By MERISSA GREENTHE LEDGER

LAKELAND | Kathryn LeRoy, the Polk County School District's new superintendent, will begin her first day on the job May 31.

LeRoy, 55, was chosen Wednesday among three finalists -- the others were Constance Jones, administrator on assignment in Lee County, and David Lewis, the Polk School District's associate superintendent of learning.

"I'm absolutely committed to Polk," LeRoy said on Thursday.

LeRoy said she withdrew from two other searches after being contacted Wednesday by School Board Chairwoman Hazel Sellers.

Before accepting the Polk job, LeRoy had been director of high schools for the Duval County School District in Jacksonville.

The Polk School Board has drafted a proposed three-year-contract with LeRoy, which includes a $225,000 annual salary, participation in the state retirement plan and an $800 a month car allowance. In addition to the state retirement, the board also will offer her a retirement annuity.

LeRoy has worked for more than 27 years in education. She has a bachelor's of science degree in animal science from the University of Maryland, a master's degree in animal nutrition and physiology from the University of Tennessee, an educational leadership certification from Florida Atlantic University.

In addition to her job as director of high schools, she also served as the Duval school district's chief academic officer for 125,000 students and 14,000 employees. Polk has 96,000 students and 12,000 employees.

"The best recent example of Kathy LeRoy's ability to lead a district is her work on our summer learning opportunities," retired Duval Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannal wrote in a recommendation for LeRoy. "Through significant funding from the Wallace Foundation, Duval County Public Schools has created what is being widely accepted as one of the be the academic intervention programs in the country."

In her application, LeRoy noted that her experience working with diverse communities, including English-language learners and black students, will be useful considering the majority of Polk School district students are minorities.

LeRoy already has a plan, called her "100-Day Entry Plan" on what she wants to do upon her arrival. Some of those items include:

Meet with individual board members to determine their expectations for teaching and learning for Polk County Schools.

Visit schools every day to listen to principals, teachers and students.

Meet with district administrators, school-based administrators and district support personnel to Conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threats analysis.

Conduct a similar analysis with teachers and noncertificated school personnel.

Conduct multiple public community forums within each board member's district.

Meet with the local Chambers of Commerce, service organizations, nonprofits, business leaders, faith-based leaders, local officials and community leaders to build relationships and garner support.

Identify a diverse and talented senior leadership team and establish a regional delivery model for reporting and accountability.

Review the current district financial status and finalize the 2014 balanced budget.

School Board members are ready for LeRoy to begin work.

Dick Mullenax said LeRoy has the ability to move the district academically and that's important to him.

"I thought she presented herself well," Mullenax said. "She has a proven track record in turning underprivileged schools around in Duval County.

Tim Harris said LeRoy has indicated she will hit the ground running.

"It's going to be a strong, learning curve for her," Harris said. "I think she appears to be a fast learner. What I've seen is she has done a lot of homework on Polk County."

Debra Wright said she's excited about LeRoy.

"I'm looking forward to her coming and having conversation with her," she said. "Change is always painful but the outcome can outweigh the concerns."

[ Merissa Green can be reached at merissa.green@theledger.com or 863-802-7547. ]

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